French rugby clubs Racing 92 and Stade Francais announce merger

Top French rugby clubs Racing 92 and Stade Francais, who between them have won the last two Top 14 titles, on Monday announced a shock plan to merge from next season.

"This association, effective from next season, will give birth to a new club that preserves the roots of Racing 92 and Stade Francais Paris, while expanding the means for youth and French rugby," said a statement announcing the deal.

The club presidents, Jacky Lorenzetti of reigning Top 14 champions Racing 92 and Thomas Savare of Stade Francais, champions the previous year, were to speak later Monday at a press conference.

Will Genia's immediate rugby future is up in the air with his Stade Francais teammates' decision to strike against the French club's merger with Racing 92.

Players were shocked by the clubs' decision which may leave some out of a job, while a return to Australia for Wallabies scrumhalf Genia could be on the cards with his stated desire to one day move home.

Stade Francais lock Pascal Pape said "99 per cent" of his squad has agreed with the decision to take action.

"We have decided to go on strike. We find this decision intolerable," Pape told reporters on Tuesday, a day after presidents from both Paris-based clubs announced the merger plans.

"It will be a difficult fight, an irritating one for our players. But as the club's most senior player I am standing by this (decision)."

The team's next scheduled match was supposed to be away to Castres on Saturday.

Genia's compatriot Hugh Pyle also plays at Stade Francais, while Racing's squad does not include any Australians but does comprise All Blacks greats Dan Carter, Ali Williams and Joe Rokocoko.

Racing 92 are the reigning French champions and both clubs play in the Top 14 championship. The clubs have won a combined 20 titles.

Stade Francais centre Jonathan Danty said he was upset because the players were not made aware of the club's plans.

"I'm still trying to come to terms with what's been done behind our backs," Danty said.

"We've always been told we're the future of the club. We've often heard that if we leave, the club's finished, and now we realise that everything's been done behind our backs.

FRENCH clubs Racing 92 and Stade Francais have scrapped merger plans that sparked outrage from top internationals, fans and officials, Racing’s president Jacky Lorenzetti said Sunday.

Billionaire businessman Lorenzetti and Stade Francais counterpart Thomas Savare announced the plan for the merger of the two Top 14 Paris region rivals on Monday in a bombshell move that players likened to a stab in the back.

The stunning U-turn came six days later after a storm of protest from players, fans, rugby officials and even the Paris city administration.

Racing 92 and Stade Francais, winners of the last two Top 14 titles, are two of the most formidable clubs in the French championship.

Elite stars feared for their careers following the announcement of the plan that entailed a loss of half the playing staff of the combined clubs.

Opposition was so strong and came from so many quarters that Lorenzetti said he and Savare had been forced into an about turn.

“I renounce the plan for a rapprochement with Stade Francais. In agreement with Thomas Savare the merger will not take place,” said Lorenzetti in a statement.

“I heard and understood the strong reservations expressed in response to this project.

“In any case, the social, political, cultural, human, and sporting conditions were not in place. Perhaps we had the right plan too soon, only the future will tell.”

Given the number of Australian players who move to Europe for a payday, maybe we should buy the club and rename it, in the manner of London Irish, as Paris Australians. That way we can keep the stars who want a payday happy, can ensure that they are available whenever the Wallabies want them, and maybe if there's so much money in NH rugby help out the ARUs coffers.

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